Being the drummer for the hottest new rock band should’ve been a dream come true. Sold out shows, women, more money than I deserved…

But I didn’t want any of it.

The fame sucked, the money was a burden and I’d given away my only chance at ever having her — my best friend’s sister.

I wasn’t supposed to touch her. My best friend made me swear I wouldn’t. Then he was deployed, and he told me to look out for her. Except being around her while still keeping my distance was slowly killing me. Touring with the band should’ve been the perfect escape… Until I fucked up.

I fucked up so bad, she was half-conscious in my arms, fighting for her life.

*BENNETT is the fourth standalone book in the Uncompromising series.

Sybil Bartel’s Bennett is a little different from the other books in her Uncompromising series.Unlike the previous books which deal with ex-military men who now use their skills to help people, Bennett is about a rock star who falls in love with his best friend’s sister. Even though Bennett is a rock drummer instead of a soldier, the novel still touches on the military and its effects on the men and women who serve. I really enjoyed this story. Probably more than the last two books in this series. The characters are very well-developed, the story is touching, and the romance feels earned. While it’s great to read this series in order, the truth is this book can be read as a standalone.

What I loved most about this book was the romance between Bennett and Elyssia was pretty sweet and hot. These two have known each other since they were kids when her brother Marcus brought Bennett home after he was beaten up at school. Bennett has always felt an attraction towards Elyssia, which was very much reciprocated, however out of respect for Marcus Bennett always kept his distance. When Marcus was deployed, Bennett promised him he’d look after Elyssia. Yet, the pull of fame and desire caused Bennett to keep her at arm’s length. Since these two have history, it didn’t seem odd that they would hook up. In fact, their history added to the conflict between them and placed realistic obstacles in their path. Everything about these two felt real, and I enjoyed every minute of their story.

I also really loved how the novel dealt with Marcus’ PTSD from his tour of duty. Marcus had two tours, and when he came home he wasn’t quite the same. Marcus’ behavior in the novel is quite upsetting, but also very realistic to some of the struggles men and women in uniform face upon their return. I thought this added a great conflict for the characters to resolve, and I enjoyed that it wasn’t an easy fix. Everything about this story was just right. In fact, this is probably one of my favorite military romance novels to date.

About Sybil Bartel

Sybil grew up in Northern California with her head in a book and her feet in the sand. She used to dream of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their shelves full of books about wistful summer days and first loves drew her into the world of storytelling. Her true literary love is the New Adult genre but really, any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly beautiful makes her swoon.

Sybil now resides in Southern Florida and while she doesn’t get to read as much as she likes, she still buries her toes in the sand. If she’s not writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in her backyard, you can find her spending time with her handsomely tattooed husband, her brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer…

But Seriously?

Here are ten things you really want to know about Sybil.

She grew up a faculty brat. She can swear like a Sailor. She loves men in uniform. She hates being told what to do. She can do your taxes (but don’t ask). The Bird Market in Hong Kong freaked her out. Her favorite word is desperate, or dirty, or both, she can’t choose. She has a thing for muscle cars. But never rely on her for driving directions, ever. And she has a new book boyfriend every week—don’t tell her husband.